Meerut-Lucknow Rajya Rani Express Derailment: Mishaps of 2017

Taking the count of train mishaps in 2017 ahead, eight coaches of Meerut-Lucknow Rajya Rani Express derail near Rampur on Saturday morning. As per the latest reports, 10 persons are said to be injured in the incident which took place near a bridge over the Koshi river between Rampur and Mundapanda. Several media reports have also claimed that the Railway Ministry has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

Taking cognizance of the mishap, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced Rs 50,000 compensation to those seriously injured and Rs 25,000 to people with minor injuries. Meanwhile, Railways has issued a helpline number – 0121-6401215 – for victims and families of the train derailment.

Here is the list of train accidents that have happened in 2017:

January 22, 2017: Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express derailment

27 passengers were killed and 36 others were left injured as nine coaches of the Bhubaneswar-bound Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Express derailed. The accident happened in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district.

February 20, 2017: Kalindi Express derailment

The Delhi-bound Kalindi Express derailed at the Tundla Junction in Uttar Pradesh. Two trains, an express train and a freight train, were running on the same track, when the express train rammed into the freight one from the back. Following this, three coaches of the train and the engine derailed.

March 30, 2017: Mahakaushal Express derailment

52 passengers were left injured as Mahakaushal Express derailed in Uttar Pradesh. The train, which runs between Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh and Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi had derailed between Laadpur and Supa near Kulpahar station. The investigation of the accident was done by the anti-terrorist squad and Railway Police Force.

April 9, 2017: Goods train gets derailed in West Bengal

The engine of a goods train got derailed between Madpur and Jakpur in Howrah-Kharagpur section of South Eastern Railway. The incident affected the train services however, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

According to Indian Railways, Lifeline of the Nation, a February 2015 white paper, as much as 40 per cent 1,219 line sections of Indian Railways are utilised beyond 100 per cent. Meanwhile, an IndiaSpend analysis claims that the track failures and subsequent derailments are caused by twin factors–excessive traffic and under investment in rail infrastructure. As per the Railway Ministry, looking at the rate of the occurrence of train mishaps, Minister of Railways Suresh Prabhu had requested all CMs of states/UTs to enhance security of railway tracks and travelling passengers.